Moistener for gummed surfaces



(No Model.)

0. M. PRATT.

MOISTENER FOR GUMMED SURFAGE3.

No. 562,659. Patented June 23, 1896.

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHARLES MANVILLE PRATT, OF TOYVANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOISTENER FOR GUMMED SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,659, dated June 23, 1896.

Application filed April 22, 1896. Serial No. 588,597. (No model.)

To all whom iz'; 11mg concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MANVILLE PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Towanda, in the county of Bradford certain new and useful Improvements in illoisteners for Gummed Surfaces; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which. it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in moisteners for envelops, postage-stamps, &c., and has for its object to provide a device which is very simple and inexpensive in construction and easily manipulated, and which will retain the requisite moisture and obviate the necessity of touching the tongue or mouth to the envelop, stamp, or other object to be moistened. It consists of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and specifically claimed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a central Vertical section; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view of the tube and stem; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the tube, and Fig. i a similar view of the stem.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views, A represents the bottle or other vessel to contain the moistening liquid.

13 is a stopper of cork or other suitable material.

G is a tube tapering slightly inward from the lower to the upper end, made of brass or other non-corrosive material-such as hard rubber, celluloid, 860. a are screw-threads on the said tube adapted to screw into the cork B and hold the tube securely in place therein.

1) are bayonet-slots formed in the sides of the tube and atthe lower end thereof.

1) is a stem provided at its upper end with a rubber bulb or nipple E, and a piece of chamois F or other material over said bulb, both tied thereon or secured by any other suitable means.

c is a cross-bar or pin in the lower end of the stem D, adapted to engage and be removably secured in the bayonet-slot b in the tube 0, and thereby lock and hold the stem in the said tube, and at the same time hold the bulb E the desired distance above the upper end of the tube G, and when the said bulb is pressed upon in the process of moistening prevents its being pressed inward into the tube.

G is a wick made, preferably, of coarse gauze, but it may be made of any other suitable material, which is placed over and covers the bulb E and chamois F, and its ends extend down through the tube G to the bottom of the bottle or other vessel containing the moistening liquid, said wick being adapted to feed the liquid to the outside of the bulb by capillary attraction.

The operation is as follows: The tube G is screwed into the cork or stopper. The guaze wick is placed over the end of the bulb and down around the stem D, the stem inserted into the lower end of the said tube and pushed upward until the ends of the crossbar 0 enter the vertical port-ions of the bayonet-slots, and then by turning the stem to the left the ends of the cross-bar will enter and engage the horizontal portions of the bayonet-slots and thereby lock the stem D in the tube 0. When it is desired to put in a new wicl; or take the moistener apart for any other reason, it is only necessary to turn the stem in the opposite direction, namely, to the right, until the ends of the cross-bar are on a line with the vertical portions of the bayonet-slots and then pull the stemdownward and remove the same from the tube. The several parts being properly arranged and the vessel supplied with water, the liquid, by capillary attraction, ascends the gauze wick and moistens the chamois covering of the soft-rubber bulb. The ohamois and gauze hold sufficient moisture, which is readily given off on slight pressure. The vessel is grasped in the hand, inverted, and the bulb rubbed upon the gummed surface or to the opposite surface to which the gum is to adhere.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A moistener for gunnned surfaces comprising a liquid-containing vessel, having a stopper provided with a tube extending through the same, a stem within said tube, a bulb or nipple on the top of said stem, a wick extending over the bulb down through the tube into the liquid-containing vessel, and means for locking the stem to the tube, substantially as described.

2. A moistener for gummed surfaces comprising a liquid-containing vessel, having a stopper provided with a tube extending through the same, a stem Within said tube, a wick extending through the tube and over the stem, the said tube provided with bayonet slots and the stem With a cross-bar adapted to engage said slots substantially as described.

3. A moistener for gummed surfaces comprising a liquid-containing vessel having a stopper, a tube extending through said stopper, provided With bayonet-slots, a stem within said tube having a cross-bar, the ends of which are adapted to engage the bayonetslots, the upper ends of the stem provided with a softrubber bulb, the bulb covered with chamois and the chamois and stem covered With a gauze Wick extending into the vessel. substantially as described.

4:. A moistener for gummed surfaces com prising a liquidbontaining vessel having a stopper provided with a tube extending through the same, a stem within said tube, a bulb or nipple on the top of said stem, a wick extending over the bulb down through the tube into the liquid-containing vessel and the said tube provided with the bayonet-slots and the stem with a cross-bar adapted to engage said slots and thereby securely hold the tube and stem together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MANVILLE PRATT.

\Vitnesses:

STEPHEN H. SMITH, E. B. PIERCE. 

